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eHealth in Europe: from Vision to Reality.
Ilias Iakovidis1, Octavian Purcarea
1European Commission, Directorate General Information Society and Media, Unit ICT for Health, Brussels, Belgium. Ilias.Iakovidis@ec.europa.eu
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics
|April 1, 2008
Summary
The European Union has funded information and communication technologies for healthcare (eHealth) for 20 years, driving innovation and implementation. This sustained support is making eHealth a global reality, improving citizen health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Informatics
- European Health Policy
Background:
- The European Union has invested in information and communication technologies for healthcare (eHealth) since 1989.
- This investment has fostered research, complemented national initiatives, and enhanced industrial competitiveness.
- eHealth addresses health and social challenges arising from the free movement of people within the EU.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the progress and impact of EU-funded eHealth research and development over two decades.
- To highlight the shift towards market validation and policy-level support for eHealth solutions.
- To underscore the growing international collaboration and the global realization of eHealth visions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of EU funding trends and policy documents related to eHealth.
- Review of key eHealth initiatives, action plans, and large-scale pilots.
- Examination of international cooperation in the eHealth domain.
Main Results:
- Significant progress in realizing earlier eHealth visions, with many solutions nearing wider implementation.
- Increased European Commission support for market validation, implementation, and health policy integration.
- Establishment of significant policy frameworks like the eHealth Action Plan and initiatives for interoperability.
Conclusions:
- EU-supported eHealth initiatives have matured significantly over 20 years.
- The focus is now on implementation, market validation, and policy, with a strong emphasis on interoperability.
- eHealth is increasingly recognized as a global reality, fostering international cooperation for citizen benefit.
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